“Always running into me. Keep doing it and I am going to start thinking it’s on purpose” Mark laughed as he helped her straightened up.
“I’m sorry” She stuttered. “I just got really hot. I have to get this jacket off and the zipper is stuck.”
“Well, it’s about five sizes too big Sophie. It’s amazing it hasn’t fallen off.” Mark helped dislodge the zipper and unzipped her jacket. His pants became a little tighter. Her white tank top was exactly the right size. It clung tightly to her perfectly rounded breasts and flat stomach. His brain screamed to touch her.
“Well, it was Natalia’s. You should have seen how big the dress was. I didn’t get added to this thing until a few days ago.” She blushed as he let her go. A visible shiver ran down her spine and he swore her nipples hardened. She looked up at him through her dark lashes and he was instantly hard.
Mark shot away from her and down the aisle away leaving the group behind. He had to get his head right. This was not him. He wanted to pick Caleb up by the neck and remove him from the seat. He, Caleb and Rich had been The Three Musketeers growing up and this was not a thought he had ever had about his best friend before. He knew he and Sophie were friends and worked together but suddenly, that was not OK with him.
****
His smile had been all it took to convince the stewardess in the back that he needed to pace for a few minutes. When she asked if he was nervous about flying he just agreed and she let him blow off some steam as she readied the drink cart for coach.
“Markie?” Molly’s voice was quiet and concerned. His eyes met hers but he couldn’t stop pacing. “What’s happening? You’ve been gone for a half hour. I’m worried.” She put her hands on his arms and he stilled. “Is it the flight? Have you flown since….” Her voice trailed off. She knew he had been through some things during the war but he never talked about it.
“No baby. It’s not the flight.” He grabbed her and held onto her. His grip tightened as she tried to back up. “I don’t know what’s happening to me.”
“You’re soaking wet. What’s wrong?” Molly’s voice shook.
“I don’t know. Everything is closing in on me and I can’t breathe.” Mark took the drink the stewardess handed him. He was on his third crown and soda. He felt nothing but fear. He chugged the drink and handed it back to the stewardess asking for another. She winked at him but he hardly noticed.
“How many drinks have you had?” Molly leveled her eyes at the stewardess. He just shrugged. “Last one. Chug it down and let’s move. Half our crew is asleep and I’m bored. Ryan is being his usual ass self and he and Claire have been practically screwing in full view. I need you up there.”
She took his hand and led him slowly through coach until they reached the first class curtain. He took a deep breath and steadied himself. He surveyed the cabin. Rich was asleep against the window, and so were Liz, Amber and Steve. He refused to look at Sophie and Caleb. He sat down next to Chad who just nodded and went back to his magazine. He settled into his seat and took a second deep breath. His curiosity got the best of him and he dared a quick glance at Sophie. She was asleep with her chair reclined. Caleb was looking out the window drumming his fingers on his knee. He couldn’t help but notice Sophie’s arm still holding the book and resting across Caleb’s chest.
****
Arriving at the hotel was total commotion. The lobby was packed and Molly and Rich were being very patient getting the six rooms they had booked. The wedding party sat clumped together on a large couch waiting for room assignments. It had been a long travel day and the night air felt good against their jetlagged bodies.
“OK. Here’s the deal,” Rich looked nervous. “The rooms are fine. All six are on the same floor, really close together. Ryan and Claire have asked to room together. I will be with Molls, Obviously Amber and Steve. Liz has asked to bunk with Jessica since she had to leave the hubby at home.” He fidgeted. “So. one of you guys is going to have to bunk with Sophie. And Chad, I have gotten death threats from your wife so it won’t be you.”
“I’ll stay with Soph” Caleb perked up and practically yelled.
Molly gave Sophie a sympathetic look and whispered “Is that ok?” Sophie shook her head that is was.
“Here’s your key Marco,” Rich handed him the same key he had handed Chad. Mark stood there shocked. “Caleb and Sophie are sharing a room?” He said puzzled as he dropped his luggage and fell back onto the couch. He was going to need some more to drink. He was going to need some female companionship. His eyes met Molly’s and Molly’s jaw dropped.
Chapter 3
She needed to take a walk. Caleb had been great offering to stay with her. After all, he was one of her closest friends in LA and technically her boss, since his senior editor position was the one she worked under. But since the incident on the plane, she had become a little fidgety sharing a room with someone she now saw as a man and not just her friend. He liked her. Not only liked her, he had talked to his friends about her.
Caleb was unpacking quietly. He had let her take the bed by the window so she would have the ocean view in the morning. He was doing everything right. She knew he was attractive. He spent a good amount of time at the gym with Ryan and his body clearly showed that. His smile lit up a room when he walked in and he had more than his share of looks when they went out together. His dirty blond hair, green eyes and little scattering of freckles attracted women wherever they went. But her boyfriend? She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to try to picture herself in his arms. She loved him. But she loved him like her good friend and she couldn’t imagine taking it past that point.
He took his t-shirt off and threw it back into his empty suitcase. His body was ripped and Sophie waited to feel something as she watched his strong muscles relax as he stretched. She cleared her throat. “I am going to go for a walk on the beach. Just clear my head a little.”
“Want some company?” Caleb grinned and bent to pick up his t-shirt.
“Actually, I would love to just be alone. You’ve been great. It’s just been a long day and I need to just get out there and feel the sand under my feet and feel the breeze hit my face. Is that ok?” She straightened up her pajama pants and tank top and grabbed her flip flops. “I should have packed another sweatshirt. It’s breezy out there.” She grabbed her keycard and headed for the door.
“Soph?” Caleb threw her his UCLA sweatshirt. She knew it would swallow her but she put it on anyway and headed for the beach.
****
The breeze coming off the ocean was chilly. Mark shivered as he dug his toes further beneath the sand trying to warm his feet. The sounds of the late night party were drowned out by the waves hitting the shore and for the first time all day, he felt at peace.
His dark hair was tussled from trying to sleep and forget. His khaki pants were wrinkled and his white shirt unbuttoned. He rubbed his hands down his face and felt the stubble. It had been a long day. He leaned back onto his elbows and shut his eyes to feel the breeze on his face. This was pure heaven. He knew tomorrow would be crazy with activities, but tonight, this little corner of the beach belonged to him. He started to doze off.
“Hey stranger” The voice was sweet and for a minute he thought he might be dreaming. He opened his eyes slowly and saw her. His body instantly responded. Sitting up he smiled, “Hey yourself.” His mind raced.
“Mind if I sit? I think I have walked almost the whole beach. I could use a break.”
Gesturing to the sand next to him, Mark took a deep breath to steady himself. “I could use the company. What brings you out here this late?”
She played with a string hanging from the oversized sweatshirt. He recognized it right away. Caleb had worn that sweatshirt every Sunday when they were in college and were looking for a pick up game; Seeing her in it made his chest constrict. “I just needed some air and some distance. It was a really long day.” Sophie sighed.
Mark watched as the waves hit the shore and said nothing. The silence was wonderful. He had never met someone that he could just be quiet with. She dug her toes under the sand trying to warm up and just stared into the vast darkness of the ocean. He had to ask. He couldn’t let it go any longer. “So, you and Caleb huh?”
Her head snapped toward him. “Me and Caleb what?” She shivered.
“You and Caleb as in You with Caleb. He’s a good guy. I’ve known him since I was five.” His stare remained fixed on the darkness.
“No” was all she could manage to say. Was he jealous? She grinned. Being this close to him made her crazy. Even all those years spent with Shawn, she never wanted him the way she wanted Mark. Mark was strong and fit and popular. He was stunning and so far out of her league. Men that looked like him never even spoke to her, let alone let her touch them. But in that moment, she wanted to reach out and touch that rock hard stomach that was showing through his open shirt. His eyes bore into her and after taking a steadying breath, she met his gaze.
“No? You are wearing his clothes and sleeping in his bed. And he has a major thing for you, as pointed out so quietly by my favorite pain in the ass. So, are you sure no?”
“We have two beds. And I am positive. I adore him. He’s one of my best friends. But I just don’t feel it with him.”
“It? I don’t know what that is.” Mark kept his stare steady and even in the darkness, he could see her blush.
“It. The shivers and the butterflies and the jealousy when other girls look at him. I don’t feel it. I mean, he’s great. He really is. There’s just…..” her voiced trailed off as she looked back out at the ocean. She waited a few moments before answering. “Nothing.”
“So, is there someone you feel it for?” Mark just kept staring. What was he doing? He wanted to take her right there on the beach. Quiet little covered up Sophie had done something to him and he couldn’t understand any of it.
She continued to bother the string hanging from the sweatshirt. Mark had to touch her. He reached out and stopped her hands. He wrapped the loose string around his fingers and pulled it off the sweatshirt. No more interruptions, he told himself. Turning toward her, he gently rolled the sweatshirt sleeves up enough that her hands were free. His whole body screamed at him to kiss her. She nibbled at her bottom lip and her eyes followed his hands, up his arms and stopped when her eyes met his.
He put his hand up to brush her hair behind her ear but stopped himself. He was a one nighter. Sophie deserved so much better. He had one type; easy and hot. This girl didn’t seem like either. She was pretty but always so covered up and her shy blush told him there was no way she was easy. He liked to fuck. He didn’t snuggle or hold a woman. And only a few occasions had he fallen asleep after and spent the night. He wasn’t going to change and he didn’t know Sophie well, but he could tell she deserved everything. “Let’s walk. I’ll walk you back. It’s getting late.” Mark got to his feet and extended his hand to help her up. When her hand touched his, his body instantly tensed. What was this woman doing to him?
“So tell me about the infamous Sophie. Where are you from? How did you meet Molls? Is your boyfriend upset you are out here with our crazy bunch?” Mark walked slowly next to her, periodically brushing her arm as they walked.
Sophie just laughed. It was such a beautiful sound. “No boyfriend waiting anywhere. I was engaged but it’s a long story. He liked secretaries more than he liked me. We went to college in Georgia and after graduation, I moved to LA with him so he could pursue his music career. Your sister saved me from all that. I was a mess. But she’s awesome and kicked my ass into gear. She has the office just outside my lovely cubicle at work. So, other than Molly and Caleb, and the occasional run in with Ryan, that about sums up my social life.”
“Do you regret the move?” The conversation with her just flowed and he loved that.
“No. No regrets about the move. I love my job and my tiny apartment. I regret putting all my life into Shawn. But I suppose it taught me what I don’t want. Although, no offense to you, men in general are dogs, so it will be a long time before I get involved with someone without really trusting them.” She looked at him and smiled. “What about you? Where is Mrs. Moretti? What do you do? Molly told me she had a brother but I know you don’t live in LA.”
“Actually, I do as of a few days ago. The investment company I work for promoted me so I moved back. I was out in North Carolina after my last tour with the Marines so I stayed and took the first broker job I could find. So, now Molls is stuck with me. I am looking for a house so I am living with Rich at the moment.” He stopped walking and wrapped his pinkie around hers. She stopped and looked at him with a small smile on her face. “No Mrs. Moretti. I’m kind of an asshole. I don’t think there is someone out there for everyone. Molly says it’s just because I won’t slow down long enough to open up to anyone. I am just sticking with I’m an asshole.”
“Well, it sure seems like you just opened up.” Sophie smiled as she walked away from him toward the hotel.
****
Caleb was pacing when she came into the room. He stopped and stared when she opened the door. “You’ve been gone an hour. I was getting worried. What’s with the grin?”
Sophie kicked off her shoes and laughed. “Always my protector, aren’t you? Relax, I’m back. I’m fine. I ran into Mark and we talked for awhile and he walked me back.”